Happy Birthday, Canadian Scrapbooker!!!

Look what arrived in my mailbox yesterday:

I can't believe it. 

The fact that the magazine has lasted five years is not surprising at all.  If you've never picked up a copy, shame on you you can see that this is not an ordinary scrapbooking magazine!  As my talented friend, Cathie Allan, always says, "I refuse to call it a magazine, it's too beautiful!  It's an idea book!"

High quality, glossy pages.  Design team that oozes talent.  Only 30% advertising.  Includes ONLY products that are available in Canada - and features Canadian companies in each issue. 

Then there's the whole added appeal of featuring only Canadian artists.  What a coup for our talented sisters across the nation!  Not that we can't hold our own with our American cousins ('cuz we have! :)), but how wonderful is it to pick up each issue and be delighted in seeing your friends' names, or discovering new talent, especially in our Passport To Creativity section?

Sigh.  I {heart} so many things about this magazine.  Most of all, the fact that I am lucky enough to be a part of it.

What I find hard to believe is that we are celebrating FIVE years!  It has been so much fun and I thank my lucky stars each and every day that I met Jackie, just over five years ago, in an online forum.  I remember the shock, disbelief and then pleasure that washed over me when she invited me to join the team and write a regular column. 

I have had the chance to meet so many wonderful new friends.  And sharing my passion for photography is the best part of all. When I approached Jackie with the idea for the Hands On! photography article and blog, I was so happy that she loved it!  It's been so great, maintaining the blog and seeing our readers' photos that they submit each month for the photo assignment. 

(Psst...Have you sent me yours yet?  November's deadline is approaching... :D)

Anyhow, the whole point of this reminiscing is this:  I don't believe in coincidences.  I think that everything happens for a reason.  And the fact that two copies of this super magazine showed up in my mailbox yesterday, on the Thanksgiving Day (albeit American)..?  Well, that's just telling me that I am supposed to be grateful for what I have and share the love.

So, I am going to be giving away one 5th Anniversary Collector's Edition of the Winter 2010/11 issue!  This issue cannot be found in stores - it is for subscribers only.

AND... this weekend, I will be seeing one, maybe two, of the ladies who are featured in the Passport to Creativity section:  Jennifer Hottinger-Sloan and hopefully, Lee Currie, so I may be able to finagle their signatures on the copy, along with my own.

AND... I'll also throw in a 30 minute pre-paid calling card so you can call me to chat, if you win.  Or you can call someone else.  I guess that would be okay, too. :)

AND... I'll include a few of the mini-stamps sets from Just Cre8, too, for good measure.

So, what do you have to do to qualify to win this RAK? 

Nuthin'.

'Cept maybe leave me a comment here (so I can enter you!).  And if you want, you can click on the Follow button on the right and join the other Kewl Friends that I have. 

But you don't have to.  It won't do anything to give you an edge up on your non-clicking adversaries. 

Except that it would make me happy.  Very happy. :)

I leave it open for comments until 11:59 pm EST on December 4th, 2010.  A winner will be announced shortly afterwards!

So go ahead.  Leave me a comment - I dare you. :D 

And don't forget to leave your name if you are posting anonymously!